Gulu youth punch holes in domestic coffee consumption project

A group of youth in Gulu district have protested the method being used to implement a pilot project that is intended to promote the domestic consumption of coffee in the area.

The project was introduced under the third phase of the Northern Uganda Social Action Fund-(NUSAF-III).

It’s being implemented by Inspire Africa, a human capital development organisation that works with young entrepreneurs.

However, some youth in the area argue that the project is shrouded in corruption, shoddy work, mismanagement and sectarianism.

They also challenge the criteria used to choose Inspire Africa as the implementing franchise without involving youth leaders in the region.

On Thursday, the youth disrupted a consultative meeting that was convened to introduce the project to youth leaders at Gulu District Council Hall.

 They demanded full accountability of the money already spent on the project.

They further asked the Office of the Prime Minister to probe the implementation of the project with the aim of re-organising.

Mr John Bosco Uhuru, a youth campaigner in Gulu District says they are suspicious that the project has been mismanaged.

Although Nelson Tugume, the head of Inspire Africa was present at the botched meeting, he was blocked from addressing the rowdy youths.

 He told journalists that the government supported the company with machinery to undertake youth training in the management of coffee franchises.

Mr Tugume says that under the Project, his company is mandated to construct mobile coffee shops, barber shops and car washing bays where domestic coffee consumption can be promoted.

He says they have set up a coffee demonstration garden in Paicho Sub County in Gulu District to promote coffee growing in the area.

Mr Alfred Odera, the NUSAF-III operations specialist in the Office of the Prime Minister says that several challenges have been registered in the implementation of the youth-led project.

He says Gulu District leaders should have involved youth leaders in the implementation of the project.

 According to Mr Odera, the project is meant to benefit 150 youth in the district to promote youth entrepreneurship and employment.

 Uganda earns about $4.8 million from coffee exports.

The government has also set up a national strategy to increase the production of coffee from 3.5 million bags to 20 million bags.